Trifter

I had just lived through the worst New Year in history. It included all the things anyone dreads: no one to kiss, at someone’s house out of pity cause let’s face it your friends are now so busy with their families or in other countries that New Year’s, it seems, has become a holiday for the unemployed. And, worst of all, the outfit I had thought was perfection did not come out so great in the photographs, I looked like a yellow Diana Ross. No, I don’t know why. So I decided enough was enough, the Chinese New Year offered me an unparalleled opportunity to try again, to have a second go, to complete in six weeks what I didn’t manage in twelve months, and damn it, I was going to make it happen.

First I wanted to lose weight. I still had some henna packets from a trip to India and tattooed over the palm of each hand ‘Stop it!’. Within half an hour I was reaching for the nearest confit de canard, foie gras, and vine leaves. I breathe out and remember what the big picture looks like. Okay I join a gym. Old ladies seem the only one to frequent the gym next door, so I won’t be distracted by hot young things, and also no one will expect too much from me. i turn up for a body pump class. Weight lifting to music for one hour. The lady next to me, perhaps mid sixties hands mea bar and helps me organize myself. I put on 2.5 kilos on each side. ‘No dear, that won’t be enough put on five’

I start and nearly DIE! It was so hard I crawl home, sweat dripping down my back. I don’t crave so much the bad food and have a dinner of salad and steak.
Next I think of my work, what did I want out of life and what had a truly achieved? I was still working in the same job as personal assistant for four years. I didn’t even enjoy it. What did I truly want? I wanted to trek for a while. So I booked a flight for that summer. Cheapest one? India, £50 one way. From there who knows where I would go, but the fear was in me to do it. I handed in my notice that afternoon, people thought I was crazy, but that just spurred me on.

Finally love life, what love life, and who cares. Why do we feel the need to have a partner, while it is true that the Jewish faith considers marriage to be the ideal state of personal existence; a man without a wife, or a woman without a husband, is considered incomplete. (Babylonian Talmud – Yebomoth 62b). I personally believe that you should take life as it comes. So with that in my, and with the new philosophy that the road you chose and more important the way you chose to travel it is more important than your final destination, which let’s face it is always death, I let go of everything and become a Zen master.
I flew to Hong Kong to have a second chance. It was amazing, I went alone, and it was ok because stepping into the harbor on the evening of the fireworks show, I was suddenly surrounded by thousands of people. Everyone was dancing in the street and there was such a sense of unity although let’s face it I was a complete foreigner. It wasn’t about individuality it was about being together and being happy it was fabulous, and I have to admit it brought a tear to my eye as all situations like this do. So happy Chinese new year to you all.